Los Angeles Lakers: Did ESPN’s all-time NBA ranking get it right?

George Mikan

ESPN rank: 34

Perhaps the most difficult player to rank in NBA history is George Mikan.

What exactly do you do with the man who was legitimately the league’s first superstar, with a resume that is impeccable on paper … but who is also someone the vast majority of fans have never seen play, very few have even seen extensive highlights of him, and whose level of competition has to be brought into question?

First, the positives.

From 1948 to 1956, Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five championships while leading the league in scoring three times, leading the league in rebounding once, and earning six all-league selections.

The 6’10” center was a monster for his time and the NBA’s first real marquee attraction back when theaters literally used marquees to sell the NBA to curious fans.

Now, the negatives.

Anyone who is under the age of 70 probably never saw Mikan play during his career. If they did see him play, they were no older than six.

The average fan who might look for game footage of Mikan won’t find a lot, since the NBA didn’t get its first TV deal until later in Mikan’s career and a lot of his games weren’t filmed.

While you can’t knock an athlete for factors out of his control — such as who he played against — it has to be mentioned that Mikan dominated an era that lacked for talent. The NBA wasn’t completely segregated in the late-1940s and 1950s, but there were obvious limits put on who was allowed to play with and against the White guys.

Given the complicated nature of Mikan’s legacy, it’s hard to determine an accurate ranking for him, and that’s not his fault. I have no problem with him having the 34th spot.